THE BALTIC FLEET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 261, 8 November 1904, Page 2

THE BALTIC FLEET.

SQUADRON LEAVES THE AIOHOCCAN PORT, SAILS TOWARD MADEIRA, LONDON, Nov. 6, The Russian fleet lias sailed from Taiigiers, sailing, west by south'. VOLUNTEEIt SHJI' THAN STOUT. THE LATEST TORPEDO BOAT YARNS. (Received Nov, 7, lU.lii p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 7. The Volunteer Fleet steamer Kuruslav, laiden with coal ivnd water for the Baltic Fleet, passed the Bo&phorus. French papers state that Captain Clado has (reported to the Ow that the Baltic Fleet encountered, near Vigo, more .Japanese torpedo boats, which, however, did not! make any attack. (Received Nov. 7, 11.1 (> p.m.) LONDON, Nov.. 7. The Novoe Vreniya has published u,n account, supposed to be supplied by one of the four Russian oilicers belonging to tihe Ilaltic Fleet, who are returning to St. Petersburg. It is believed the report indicates their line of defence before the commission. It states thut Russia had heard of the presence of .Japanese vessels in the Norwegian iionds, and and that Japan hud chartered ships at Hull, Southamuton, Hamburg, Christiaimia, and elsewhere. Only Germany and Denmark took precautionary measures when Russia complained on the subject. Further than this, a series of alarming telegrams was received before the fleet passed the Skaw, to the effect that four torpedo boats were coaling ut a certain fiord. The account asserts that the Jajmnese torpedo boats pursuing the transport Ivainschatka sent repeated wireless messages in faultless Russian wording. The messages peached the Russian warships, ostensibly from the Kamscliatka, but -wheal tile warships l asked 'the names of tfit officers on tiio transport sending the messages they ceased. The J apauese vessels then steamed towards the body of the ( ? trawling) fleot. One sent up a red and green rocket, as if she were in distress. The torpedo boats turned their searchlights on the fleet, whieh then fired. The narrator adds that socio of the trawlers behaved very suspiciously. They had no lights or flags, and no one wus seen on their decks, though they continued to approach. The reasonably inference was that they intended to lay mines. Any attempt to assist tho trawlers might have endangered it'he fleet. The officer declares that the J apuneso \rai« either in collusion with the trawlers or else they had mingled amongst them without their knowledge. DENIAL AND RIDICULE. NO JAPANESE TORPEDO BOATS IN THE FIORDS. (Received Nov. 7, 11.47 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 7. The Stockholm correspondent of Le Temiijs is authorised to deny that cany Japanese torpedo boats were m Norwegian: or Swedish fiords. he T"ues ridicules the allegations that Japan, purchased six destroyers from the British siiiice the wa. i.egan, anxl that these were con coaled in the Norwegian fiords.

inquiry commission, ITS CONSTITUTION AND SCOPE Oi 1 ACTION, (Received Nov. 7, 11.47 p.m.) , p . London, noiv. 7. 1110 convention provides for the appointment oif four naval officers, one each from Britain, Russia, America, and France. They Wijll choose, a lifith-, if they disagree, or some neutraj ting will select a fifth, iiitt cominiissiioin sits in Paris as soon as possible, and will report n n all the circumstances surrounding the disaster, and establish the nesponsiibility for its occurrence The commissi will settle its own mode of procedure. The parties ogitsu to sup's -i-- necossar y «raforma/tion and facilities for conducing the dniq)nlry.